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Sporting Kansas City Recalls Striker Dom Dwyer From Orlando City SC

Sporting Kansas City Recalls Striker Dom Dwyer from Orlando City SC

League-leading scorer recalled by MLS affiliate

Orlando City (USL PRO) and Sporting Kansas City (Major League Soccer) announced Thursday that Forward Dom Dwyer will be recalled from the Lions, returning to Kansas City today. Dwyer holds the league all-time single season scoring record with 15 goals through 13 games played.

“We are always aware of the loan agreement that they (Sporting) could call him up,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “We respect that decision and it’s something we knew that could happen. He’s a great kid to have around with a great personality, but we are going to continue on with our season. It’s time for one or two players to step up and continue that goal scoring Dom brought to the team.”

The striker broke the scoring record, originally held by Jhonny Arteaga of FC New York, back on June 7 vs. USL side Phoenix FC. Dwyer has a total of 18 goals in all competition in 2013, a franchise record for goals in a single season. In USL PRO action, Dwyer totalled 1,017 minutes and 31 points.

Dwyer, 22, was one of four Sporting KC players loaned to Orlando City in March along with Christian Duke, Jon Kempin and Yann Songo’o. A Generation Adidas signing, Dwyer was selected by Sporting KC in the first round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of South Florida (USF). He made two MLS appearances (including playoffs) during his rookie season in addition to minutes in nine MLS Reserve League games and two international friendlies.

Dwyer will be available for selection this Saturday when Sporting Kansas City hosts the Columbus Crew at 7:30 p.m. CT at Sporting Park.

The Lions return to regular-season action this Saturday, June 29, against the unbeaten Richmond Kickers (7-0-5) at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with tickets starting at just $15.

For more info on the match, visit Orlandocitysoccer.com.

About Orlando City Soccer Club:

Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) is a premier professional soccer sports franchise in the United States and is a member of the USL PRO. The Lion’s pro team has won two regular season titles and one postseason championship during their short time in Orlando. Outside of the pro squad, OCSC also has their own youth club, Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS) and a U23s team that participates in the PDL. For more information on the pro and youth clubs, visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com and www.orlandocityyouth.org.

MATCH RECAP: Orlando Blanks Dayton 4-0

Orlando Blanks Dayton 4-0 In Front of Regular-Season Record Crowd

9,589 fans witness Orlando top visiting Dayton, Dwyer notches brace in win

Team 1 2 Final

Orlando City 3 1 4

Dayton Dutch Lions 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

ORL- Dennis Chin (Jamie Watson) 28^th

ORL-Dom Dwyer (Rob Valentino 34^th

ORL-Jamie Watson (penalty) 39^th

ORL- Dom Dwyer (Mbengue) 72^nd

ORLANDO, Fla.—Led by three first-half goals, Orlando City (4-1-1, 13 points) handed the visiting Dayton Dutch Lions (2-1-0, 6 points) their first loss of the season 4-0 Saturday night in front of a regular-season record 9,589 fans at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The win gives the Lions a 3-0-0 home record in USL PRO regular season play as Orlando continues their home stand Tuesday night against VSI Tampa Bay.

“It was a very good, professional performance tonight,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “I’m proud of the boys.“

Dayton, who won their first two games of the season coming into Orlando, played the Lions tough early on. The Ohio-based side held strong defensive lines as an attempt to disrupt forward movement by Orlando, but as the first half went on the Lions began to find breaks.

After multiple chances by the Lions frontline, Orlando broke through in the 28^th minute with a goal from Forward Dennis Chin. The 2012 USL PRO Scoring Champion, who was making his first start for Orlando in the 2013 regular season, slotted home a score after Midfielder Jamie Watson found the striker in stride past the Dayton backline. Chin chipped the Watson feed up and over Dutch Lions’ Goalkeeper Matt Williams for the 1-0 advantage.

Once the first score occurred, Orlando opened up the match. Defender Rob Valentino found Sporting Kansas City loanee and Forward Dom Dwyer in the box in the 34^th minute, with the former USF Bull finding the back of the net after eluding Dayton’s backline for his fourth goal of the season and 2-0 advantage.

Just five minutes later, Dwyer again found himself in scoring position only for a Dayton defender to trip him inside the 18 yard box, awarding the Lions a penalty kick. Watson, who came into the game leading the league in overall points, calmly converted the attempt in the lower right-hand corner to give the Lions a 3-0 lead heading into the half.

Orlando continued to press in the second half, showing no let-up from the first 45 minutes of play. It was again Dwyer who scored for the Lions, weaving his way past a Dayton defender on the left side of the pitch in the 72^nd minute for his brace and the 4-0 advantage. The 4-0 scoreline tied the franchise’s largest goal differential in a regular season match (+4), with the game ending in the same tally.

Orlando quickly turns their attention to a home match this Tuesday, April 30, against expansion side VSI Tampa Bay. Tampa (3-3-0, 9 points) has won two out of their last three coming into Tuesday night’s match, which marks the first-ever meeting between the two Florida clubs.

The 9,589 fans Saturday night marks the second-straight week in which Orlando City set a regular-season attendance record. The previous week, 9,140 came out to see the Lions top LA 3-2, a record in its own right.

Lineups/Substitutions:

Orlando City- GK Sean Kelley, Defenders Bryan Burke, Rob Valentino, Yann Songo’o, Luke Boden, M Kevin Molino (Jonathan Mendoza 76), James O’Connor (Freddie Braun 70), Anthony Pulis, Jamie Watson (Adama Mbengue 72), F Dennis Chin (Long Tan 81), Dom Dwyer (Jean Alexandre 81)

Dayton- GK Matt Williams, D Taylor Lord (Jeremy Cheeseman 83), Greg Preciado, Shintaro Harada, Shane Smith M Joel Delass, Irakli Khutsidze (Tjeed Westdijk 72), Brock Granger, Gibson Bardsley (Joseph Madigan 56), F Brandon Swartzendruber (Remco Klasse 56), Eric Kissinger (Ryan Grothaus 84)

Penalty Summary:

DAY- Joel Delass (Yellow) 47^th

Match Facts:

Time of Match: 7:30 p.m. EST

Weather: Clear

Attendance: 9,589

For more information on Tuesday night’s match, visit Orlandocitysoccer.com.

About Orlando City Soccer Club:

Orlando Receives Four Players On Loan From MLS’ Sporting KC

Orlando Receives Four Players On Loan From MLS’ Sporting KC

Players include 2012 SuperDraft first rounder, two homegrown Kansas City products

ORLANDO, Fla.—Orlando City SC, in cooperation with Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Sporting Kansas City, announced Thursday that four players from Sporting will join the Lions on permanent loan for the 2013 USL PRO season. The players, who will compete for starting roles immediately, include Forward Dom Dwyer, Midfielder Christian Duke, Defender Yann Songo’o and Goalkeeper Joe Kempin. They will be available for play in Orlando’s upcoming collegiate friendlies and the second leg of the I-4 Derby presented by United World Soccer against the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies on March 30.

“We are bringing players in who all want to be on the first team,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “We think that they are going to come in and immediately compete. It’s game on for everybody.“

The four Kansas City products will be on loan for the 2013 season, but can be recalled at any time for Sporting KC responsibilities throughout the year. The players coming to Orlando results from a partnership completed in January of 2013, with the Lions becoming the official USL PRO affiliate of Sporting KC for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

2012 MLS SuperDraft first round selection and Sporting’s No. 16 pick Dom Dwyer enhances the Orlando City frontline for the 2013 season. The striker played in nine Reserve League matches last year, scoring two goals for Kansas City. Dwyer’s first competitive minutes were in the club’s 3-2 win over the Lions in the 2012 version of the U.S. Open Cup. The Chuckfield, England, native spent time collegiately at the University of South Florida (USF), leading the Bulls with 16 goals and two assists in 21 games played.

Sporting KC Academy product and Midfielder Christian Duke adds to the already competitive midfield group that Orlando City currently fields. The Overland Park, KS, native has been a part of the Sporting KC Academy since June of 2007, attending Shawnee Mission South High School at the same time. Duke then attended the University of San Diego Toreros, becoming a consistent starter for the team. As a senior in 2012, the midfielder started all 23 matches for San Diego, earning All-West Coast Conference Second Team honors while leading the team to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.

Another Kansas City home grown product joins the Lions in 2013, with Goalkeeper Jon Kempin to fill the backup slot to Miguel Gallardo. Kempin was Sporting’s first-ever home grown Player signing back in 2010, making his professional debut the same season as backup to starter Eric Kronberg. Kempin, similar to Dwyer, played in the 3-2 U.S. Open Cup match win over Orlando City last season. The goalkeeper is an active member of the Under-20 and Under-23 National Team pools, being named to the 20-player roster for U20 training camp in Puebla, Mexico in January 2013.

The final addition to the 2013 squad includes Defender Yann Songo’o. Son of Cameroon National Team Goalkeeper Jacques Songo’o and brother to Portland Timbers Midfielder Frank Songo’o, Yann was signed to the Sporting side this past December. Songo’o represented Cameroon at the 2011 African Youth Championship in South Africa, helping his country reach the final and qualify for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Orlando continues preseason play against Florida Gulf Coast this Saturday, March 16, at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Admission is free to the complex for the friendly. For more information on everything Orlando City, visit Orlandocitysoccer.com.

About Orlando City Soccer Club: